Action…Not Words

November 25, 2002

Dear Friends,

The poor in our community will always need your help. This year we saw a rise in the number of evictions, there were more unemployed adults and at-risk youth applying for help, and we also experienced an increase in the number of poverty households in need of help with heating their homes. Because of limited resources we have three times more applicants for education and training programs than we are able to serve.

But we do see success. Action is a private, non-profit, community based organization. Many of our directors are nominated by the low-income community, individuals who received a hand up at one time in their lives and now want to give back. We are led by people who know what it means to be poor.

When a need arises, we take action. A year ago low-income people had no where to go on Cape Ann for legal assistance in family matters. In response Action recruited an AmeriCorps*VISTA attorney who helped 145 indigent residents solve domestic relations issues.

Somebody comes in and they have a problem they think is insoluble…How are they going to get out of an abusive relationship? How are they going to get support for their children? How can they get on with their lives? What we see is an enormous weight lifted. Peter Anastas, “Low-income find new friend in court” Gloucester Daily Times 1/26/02

Our youth program helped 10 teens get their high school equivalency or their diploma this year. These are teens who have dropped out of high school, school “turn-offs” (not going to school but officially enrolled), teens who have court records, learning disabilities, substance abuse problems, or are already parents. Each comes from a very low income family. Twenty-five youth got jobs this year, 12 of them picking up over 10 tons of trash this summer!

This year we helped 141 unemployed, disabled, under-employed residents, along with members of fishing families in transition get jobs or move on to better paying jobs. We have 25 low income adults enrolled in basic education, with every single student improving one or more grade level in English and math last year. Action helped 330 households prevent evictions, helped 8 low-income households purchase a home, and 13 families obtain home rehab loans.

Action Energy helped 2,800 poverty-level homes on Cape Ann and Ipswich with energy saving repairs and fuel assistance. Action Homecare provided 571 homebound elders and disabled residents with home and personal care, helping many to continue to live independently. Adult Foster Care moved 7 slightly mentally disabled adults from institutions and placed them in local foster homes.

The safety net works. The gift you give means one more person gets a hand up.

…women with a couple more kids whose boyfriends beat them, school dropouts on welfare. They get their high school equivalency, go through employment and training, get a job, get off welfare, feel good about themselves. Or the fisherman’s daughters who become paralegals. Or the homeless shelter residents learning computers. Or the tenants spared eviction. Alan Lupo “No regrets for choosing life of Action” Boston Globe 8/8/02

As always, with sincerest gratitude,

William C. Rochford

Executive Director

Project Uplift Holiday Giving

Wenham Teahouse Tea and Giving, Sunday December 8